Alright, so here we are diving into this whole Early Access space again. It’s a bit like visiting a construction site, honestly. But it’s fun. You’ve got these games, half-built wonders, and they’re full of potential. Remember when Early Access was just a graveyard for unfinished projects? Yeah, that wasn’t great. Not saying it was all bad, but you know what I mean. Anyway, times have changed. It’s less murky now, and guess what? Some awesome stuff is coming up, like Vanguard Exiles. That’s what we’re peeking at today.
Okay, Vanguard Exiles, right? This one’s got the folks behind Magic: The Gathering working on it. So, the brains are there, no doubt. Yet, no cards like you’d think. Instead, you’ve got this whole hex-based fight vibe. Picture those tabletop setups, minus the cardboard clutter, but maybe fancy figurines could be a thing later. If they are, sign me up, seriously.
Now, quick side note — this is all just a snapshot. Vanguard Exiles is still growing. So, if I sound like I’m griping here and there, it’s just early days stuff. Lots can still change. I do have my beefs, mostly with the whole RNG chaos, but we’ll get there.
Picture this: you’ve got mercenaries. Sweet, right? They’re plowing through trench systems. Round after round, you figure out which rooms to hold. Different spots pack different points. First one to eighty wins the show. Points and bears and maybe gold? It’s like a treasure hunt, but you’ve got to be picky with your spots. Strategy time!
The catch with all this — and I know some of you might not be thrilled — it’s an auto-battler. Yep, decisions on where to dump units are your jam. You could overpower a key room, but oops, now your opponent is running amok elsewhere. Tactic roulette at its finest. And, honestly, the auto-battle is more about finesse than laziness, unlike—well, never mind.
There’s a medley of mercs and you’ll meet them bit by bit. Between rounds, cards randomly pop up for you to snag—gold allowing. No worries if you’re broke; there’s always a freebie awaiting you. You play these cards to deploy units, not in that “aha, got you” kind of way. More like setting up your chessboard. Again, this isn’t your typical card game.
On the fun scale, Vanguard Exiles nails it — mostly. Some gray areas, too. Like, where’s the story mode? You’ve got these factions — elves, dwarves, cultists — but I want to know their stories! They’re just cool units doing cool stuff for now. Maybe in time we’ll get some of that narrative fluff that makes the game lore juicy.
Balancing? Yep, it’s all about the fine tuning. Some matches feel like a fair showdown. Others, well, not so much. If you flop early in a game to 80 points, good luck clawing back. It can be a bit, uh, dragging. By round three, you get a sense if you’re going down in flames or not. That’s a tad discouraging, no lie.
Oh, let’s gripe about unkillable units for a sec. Ever try taking down a heavily armored dwarf? It’s like hitting a brick wall with a spoon. Early-game stalemates drag things out. Cool for balance perhaps, but not when your guys can’t crack that armor. That’s — let’s say — an irritation.
Besides these minor gripes, I’m loving the way Vanguard Exiles is looking. With tweaks here and there, more depth added, it’s shaping up to be a blast for anyone into strategy games. I’m glued to the updates as they inch towards final release. If you’re game, get onboard now. This one’s got potential, definitely one to watch!
